Here is today's summary of economic development news, a free service of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, representing Alabama's private sector investment in economic development. If you enjoy NewsFlash, thank an
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Calhoun Community College has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Secretary of Commerce's Economic Development Administration to create a new automotive technology program facility on the Decatur campus.

The announcement was made by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. According to Calhoun's estimates, the project should create 219 jobs and generate $32 million in private investment.

"The facility will provide entry-level skills necessary to enter into and excel in the automotive service and repair industry," the release said. "It will expand and strengthen the automotive cluster in northern Alabama and southern Tennessee, enhancing the region's economic resilience."

Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded a $700,000 grant to help create up to 300 new jobs in the Brewton area within the next several years.

The Community Development Block Grant will provide infrastructure necessary for Provalus, a company specializing in business technology and support, to locate in the city.

"Bringing new industry and employment opportunities to Alabama is a priority of my administration, and Provalus has made that same commitment on a nationwide basis," Ivey said. "I am pleased to join with local leaders in this venture which will bring new jobs to the Brewton area."

In its first year to be included in the list, Huntsville was named the seventh best place to live in America by
U.S. News and World Report.Huntsville finished ahead of such cities as Nashville, Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina and Dallas.

The list evaluates the country's 125
th most-populated metropolitan areas based on factors such as affordability, job prospects and quality of life. The rankings also factored in data from the Census Bureau, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Google facility, Alabama's first large-scale data center, will be a hub for the company's Internet traffic.

The center will be built with energy efficiency in mind, and the Tennessee Valley Authority is working with Google to supply enough renewable energy to meet 100% of the data center's power needs, a goal that will entail the repurposing of a decommissioned coal-fired plant next to the company's 360-acre site.